Madigan’s rules kill reform efforts

08/11/2017

A post-mortem on Illinois’ 2017 regular legislative session shows missed opportunities for taxpayer savings.

TAGS: death tax, estate tax, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, house rules, Mike Madigan, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights

Illinois’ 32% income tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights

07/22/2017

Illinois taxpayers deserve to have a voice in budgeting decisions as politicians continually look to hike their taxes.

TAGS: budget, income tax, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights

A taxpayer bill of rights would protect residents and encourage lawmakers to budget responsibly

By Madelyn Harwood

06/07/2017

Illinois needs a taxpayer bill of rights to urge policymakers to budget based on available revenue — or be prepared to subject tax increases to direct voter approval.

TAGS: housing, income tax, property taxes, sales tax, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights

Illinois doesn’t need a tax hike, it needs a taxpayer bill of rights

01/25/2017

Instead of proposing more tax hikes, the Illinois Senate should provide some much needed relief to residents and pass a taxpayer bill of rights.

TAGS: budget, property taxes, soda tax, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights, taxes

4 tax hikes a taxpayer bill of rights could have prevented

12/15/2016

In 2016, Chicago and Cook County officials approved new tax and fee hikes that will hit already overburdened residents. A taxpayer bill of rights could prevent politicians from constantly nickel-and-diming residents to make up for budget shortfalls.

TAGS: TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights, taxes

Madison County, Ill., to voters: Want to reduce your property taxes?

07/13/2016

A referendum allowing Madison County taxpayers to decide if they want to limit their tax burden is a choice all Illinoisans should have.

TAGS: property taxes, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights

How to stop Chicago politicians from continuing to hike property taxes

07/09/2016

A taxpayer bill of rights would put checks on politicians eager to hike taxes in one of the nation’s most over-taxed cities.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights

May jobs report: Illinois loses 2,500 payroll jobs, workforce shrinks by 9,100

By Michael Lucci

06/17/2016

Weak jobs numbers across the Midwest reflect the possibility of an oncoming economic slowdown. In fact, it would not be surprising to face a recession in the upcoming months, given that U.S. jobs growth has been weakening, and it has been seven years since the previous recession ended – a long period of expansion by historical norms.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, TABOR: Taxpayer Bill of Rights, unemployment

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and last among Midwest states...

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Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

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Brandi Lentz

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students